She missed him terribly.
Whenever something happy happened that she wanted to share, or something sad that she needed to confide, she missed him terribly.
This secret, hidden deep in her heart, that she dared not tell anyone, was so bittersweet.
If the family continued to fall into ruin, if her brother continued to be unreliable…
She didn't know what other choices she might make.
Incompetent people had to pay the price for their incompetence.
She could no longer feel the joy of living.
She had intended to drive home, but she was absent-minded the entire way. Wandering aimlessly, Zhou Jinbei found herself driving to the neighborhood where Ah Zhong used to live.
It wasn't until the car stopped and she looked up at the neighborhood name displayed on the gatehouse.
That she realized she had gone to the wrong place.
What are you doing, Zhou Jinbei?
He was gone. Ah Zhong had completely given up on you.
Why are you here, wallowing in self-pity and inviting humiliation?
Snapping back to reality, she quickly turned the car around, wanting to escape her own feelings.
However, halfway through the turn, two men walked towards her.
One was wearing a neat, formal suit, carrying a stack of documents. The top of the documents bore the logo of a real estate agency. He was talking animatedly as he walked.
The other was dressed casually, tall with long legs, walking beside him and listening silently.
Neither of them noticed the car and quickly passed by her.
Zhou Jinbei's heart began to pound wildly.
She clearly saw that the man in casual wear was Ah Zhong.
Why had he returned?
When had he returned?
What was he back for?
Bringing a real estate agent home?
Could it be a figment of her imagination?
Had he truly decided to leave Nancheng for good and was selling his house?
Lost and disoriented, after driving for quite some distance, she couldn't help herself and, pathetically, called Zhan Beijue.
He knew Ah Zhong was back and had specially returned to see her. It had been a long time. Zhan Beijue was having dinner with him tonight.
Upon receiving Zhou Jinbei's call, he sounded lazy.
"What is it?"
Afraid to ask directly, Zhou Jinbei didn't know how to phrase it appropriately and could only make up an excuse.
"What are you busy with?"
Zhan Beijue knew she wouldn't call him without a reason. Her calling him after work meant something was up.
"Just say it. Why do you care what I'm busy with?"
She was indeed acting a bit unusual.
Their sibling relationship wasn't so close that she would question his activities.
Zhou Jinbei thought for a moment longer.
"It's nothing. I wanted to come to your place for dinner. I haven't seen the kids in days and I miss them. Are you welcoming?"
"Not welcoming. We're not eating at home tonight."
"Not eating at home, then where are you going?"
"What's this, Assistant Zhou? Do your after-work plans need to be managed by me?"
"That's not what I meant. I'm just concerned about you."
Zhan Beijue was not cooperating.
"Just say what you want to say. If you keep beating around the bush, I'll hang up immediately, believe it or not?"
He was a man of his word, and Zhou Jinbei dared not provoke him.
"Ah, I think I just saw Ah Zhong on the road. Has he returned?"
So, she was calling about Ah Zhong.
He knew they both had something to hide. Zhan Beijue deliberately teased her.
"If I remember correctly, the car you're driving now is Ah Zhong's, isn't it? You two are so close, why don't you ask him directly?"
"..."
"Zhou Jinbei, why are you feeling guilty? Afraid to call him?"
Second Brother is always so blunt!
He doesn't know how to consider a girl's feelings when he speaks!
Zhou Jinbei had to cover for herself.
"I just happened to see him and thought it was strange, so I casually asked."
"Really?"
"Of course! What else could it be?"
"It better be."
Zhan Beijue said meaningfully.
"I'm going out to dinner with Ah Zhong later. If you want, you can join us."
"What do you mean 'I want him'? Second Brother, you're becoming more and more unreliable!"
Zhan Beijue didn't expose her.
"Fine, I'm unreliable, and you're perfectly innocent. It's fine if you don't come; I'm bringing someone else anyway."
"...Who?"
"Who? A beauty. Do you remember Shen Min'er? Isn't she quite pretty and suitable for Ah Zhong?"
Zhou Jinbei certainly remembered Shen Min'er.
She had helped her mother find a hospital a couple of days ago, and they had interacted for a day.
Young and beautiful.
Crucially, she had saved Zhan Beijue's life, making her extraordinary in his eyes.
Introducing her to Ah Zhong…
Zhou Jinbei felt betrayed by two men simultaneously, pierced by a thousand arrows.
"Heh. Introducing someone to a potential partner? Since when did you become so enthusiastic?"
She was angry.
Zhan Beijue could clearly sense it.
"I've always been quite enthusiastic. I even thought about introducing you to Ah Zhong before, but you were so thoughtless, I was afraid you wouldn't be a good match."
"..."
"Alright, I won't waste any more time with you. We're about to leave."
Jiang Nanfang, listening from the side, thought he was actually going to introduce Shen Min'er to Ah Zhong.
"Are you really going to introduce them?"
"Am I that bored? I was just joking with her."
"Did you also realize their relationship is not normal?"
Zhan Beijue gave her a mischievous look.
"So, you've noticed too?"
Jiang Nanfang had noticed long ago.
When Zhou Jinbei was hospitalized due to a miscarriage, Ah Zhong visited her, and the atmosphere between them was strange.
"And doesn't that Jiang Sicheng dislike women? I even suspected if that child back then was..."
"Beibei is divorced now. Is there anything that can't be spoken openly? Why are they still hiding it?"
Zhan Beijue: "Who knows."
"Ah Zhong was like a transparent person in front of me before. After meeting Zhou Jinbei, he started having more secrets."
"But if people don't say something, they have their reasons for not saying it. I'm too lazy to ask."
Jiang Nanfang nodded.
"But looking at Beibei's current state, she definitely has feelings for him in her heart and can't let go."
"So what? Zhou Jinbei is so smart. If she really wanted to solve this, she would have thought of a hundred ways by now."
"The fact that she's willing to drag it out shows her heart isn't sincere. Besides, I know my uncle's character quite well."
"He's snobbish and vain. If Zhou Jinbei were to find a poor boy like Ah Zhong, she would definitely have to endure his temper. I wouldn't want Ah Zhong to suffer like that."
Jiang Nanfang couldn't help but pinch his cheek.
"I didn't realize you considered Ah Zhong a brother and cared so much for him."
Zhan Beijue, uncharacteristically, didn't think of anything else when she made her small gesture.
He continued to speak with a serious expression.
"Ah Zhong has been by my side for so many years. I know his character and conduct the best."
"Steady and serious. Positive and upward. To be honest, he deserves someone better."
Jiang Nanfang didn't quite agree with this.
"But our Beibei isn't bad either. She's beautiful and intelligent. Her father has nothing to do with her. As long as she and Ah Zhong are compatible, that's all that matters."
"So, you're quite optimistic about the two of them?"
"Of course. Beibei called because she definitely wants you to help her with something. Can you bear not to help?"
Zhan Beijue rubbed his temples.
"I'm not good at matters of romance. Since you care about her so much, you help."